The defending Heartland champions opened their first-class season with an encouraging Ranfurly Shield challenge against Waikato played at Ruatoria. In six previous challenges East Coast had only scored a total of 12 points and never scored a try. In the 22nd minute Brent Ingram crossed the line, and on halftime Taneloa Parata scored another to be just 10-22 down at the interval.

Waikato pulled away in the second half to win 65-10.

Expectations were high as the Championship started. The opening match was an unconvincing one point win over Horowhenua Kapiti, and the remaining seven matches only produced one further win, finishing 10th in the round robin and missing the playoffs, the worst result of any defending champion. The loss to Wairarapa Bush probably summed it up: ahead 26-6 after 30 minutes to eventually lose 31-44, and ending the match with 13 men.

The big forward pack got better after the opening match. The return of Siegfreid Fisi’ihoi, who missed the first half of the campaign due to injury, really solidified an impressive front now with Lloyd Gabriel and Mahue Dewes. Riki Waitoa and Everard Reid were a good locking combination with Waitoa making the Heartland team. The energetic Brent Ingram was the best of the loose forwards. Coach Ngarimu Simpkins used himself mainly off the bench, and was captain against Waikato. The vastly experienced Charlie Harrison remained full value at halfback.

A change was made at first five-eighth midway through when Te Rangi Fraser was brought up from fullback to replace

Sikeli Vorenasu. Centre Tau Moeke and Whaimotu Craft-Chemis, elusive on the wing, earned selection into the Heartland team. Tom Teaki started the season on the wing and finished at fullback where he was a safe operator.

Twelve players were new to the East Coast jersey including Lloyd Gabriel who had previously represented Poverty Bay in 2011 and Pamona Samupo who had represented Poverty Bay in 2012.

Pamona’s older brother Pomare had returned to Taranaki after playing for East Coast in 2012. Lance Maaka and Sikeli Vorenasu had last played for East Coast in 2011.

The Union was stripped of two competition points for classing Everard Reid as a local player in the first two Heartland matches when he ought to have been declared as a loan player.

We hope you enjoy this look back as we look forward to many more years of recording the history of Ngati Porou East Coast Rugby Union. We acknowledge all the information from the NZ “Rugby Almanack” Series from the season’s 1934 through to 2013 and appreciate their hard and dedicated work in providing this detailed history. – Web Admin